Chapter 1646: Chapter 1646: Sanity
At the Zhou Hou Residence, Zhulan was watching her son solve problems when Steward Ding came in and said, "Young master, Jia Qing Lu is here."
Zhulan gestured for the guest to be let in, and Jia Qing Lu entered, "I greet you, madam."
Zhulan smiled and said, "I haven’t seen you for days; you seem to have grown taller."
Jia Qing Lu, who often visited the Qin Prince Residence and was familiar with Chang Xhong, had also visited the Hou Residence many times. Zhulan had grown fond of him as well. He was an ambitious child and a promising martial artist, as Rongchuan had praised many times.
Jia Qing Lu replied, "Recently, I’ve been growing quite a bit."
Chang Xhong stood up to measure, "You’ve grown too quickly; you’re almost as tall as me."
Jia Qing Lu smiled, "I’ve been practicing martial arts year-round, and the food at the Qin Prince Residence is good, so I grow fast."
Chang Xhong sat back down, "Brother-in-law says you’re a good seed for martial arts. I heard you can now exchange fifty moves with the guard leader?"
Jia Qing Lu curled his lips, still somewhat proud, "Yes."
Zhulan gestured for Jia Qing Lu to sit down, "Have some snacks."
Chang Xhong asked, "Why did you suddenly come over?"
Jia Qing Lu said, "I’m going to the military camp for two years; I leave the day after tomorrow."
Chang Xhong was surprised, "How old are you exactly?"
Jia Qing Lu laughed, "Precisely because I’m young, I need the training."
Chang Xhong made a sound of admiration, "Brother-in-law really has high hopes for you. This must be arranged by him!"
Jia Qing Lu admitted, "Yes, at the behest of Prince Qin."
Chang Xhong regretted that he couldn’t see Jia Qing Lu often, "Leave an address so I can send things to you."
Jia Qing Lu smiled, "Alright."
Zhulan signaled Qing Xue to arrange a meal as she wanted to keep Jia Qing Lu for dinner.
In the evening, Zhou Shuren returned, and Zhulan already knew about the things happening on the grassland, "The elder doesn’t feel at ease and wants to personally go check on Mingyun."
Zhou Shuren, "It’s good for the elder to go have a look."
"Do you have anything you want to say to Mingyun? Write a letter for the elder to deliver."
Zhou Shuren indeed had many instructions for his eldest grandson, "I’ll write a letter after dinner."
Zhulan waited for Shuren to change his clothes, "Ran Wan hasn’t seen Mingyun for a long time, and I’m thinking of asking Lady Li to go along and take Ran Wan with her. What do you think?"
Zhou Shuren wasn’t worried about any danger; the Emperor’s anger meant no one dared to make a move now. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Bring a few more guards."
Zhulan, "Alright."
Zhou Shuren suggested, "I heard the ranch had a good harvest this year. It’s better for the elder to come back with something than empty-handed. Buy some cattle and sheep to bring back to the manor."
"Alright."
The food was served, and Zhulan spoke of Jia Qing Lu, "Rongchuan arranged for Jia Qing Lu to go to the military camp; has this been made clear before the Emperor?"
Otherwise, Rongchuan wouldn’t arrange it recklessly, especially not in a place like a military camp.
Zhou Shuren didn’t really know, but he trusted the child he had taught, "It should be made clear. The Retired Emperor often visits the Qin Prince Residence and should have met Jia Qing Lu. Even if he hasn’t met him, Rongchuan would have mentioned this child, praising him multiple times, indicating he’s a talent."
Zhulan, "As long as it’s been made clear; this child is fortunate."
Zhou Shuren nodded with a smile, "Indeed."
After eating and before bed, Zhulan asked, "Who made a move on Wu Ming?"
Zhou Shuren, "All signs point to the Prince’s maternal relatives having a greater motive, but it also can’t be ruled out that someone might want to step on Wu Ming to rise."
Zhulan understood, so it was indeed the Prince’s maternal relatives, "Too hasty."
"Well, it has nothing to do with our Hou Residence anyway; let them stir things up."
The Emperor suffered from the Prince’s maternal relatives being too powerful and deeply resents their long claws. Look at how the Wen family was also handled to be compliant.
The next day, Zhulan gave a few instructions to the elder son, and he hurriedly went back to pack his luggage. Lady Li and Ran Wan would go together, leaving the two younger children behind, who were eventually brought to the main courtyard.
The elder couple was worried about their son, so they arranged everything in one day, including the convoy and guards, waiting to set off early the next morning.
The elder hoped to return before the Crown Prince’s wedding, and luckily, the road to the grassland was repaired, making the journey much faster.
In the Palace, the Emperor and the Retired Emperor chatted, the Retired Emperor said, "Speaking of which, the Zhou family is indeed blessed."
The Emperor sighed, "Yes, Zhou Shuren stumbled upon smuggling during his leave, cleaned up the Navy, and filled the state treasury. Wu Ming’s assassination, without Zhou Mingyun’s presence, would have had no vitality."
Thinking of it gives him chills; a hundred assassins. Wu Ming is a minister he has high hopes for, a future statesman he cultivated for the Crown Prince. Zhou Shuren is getting old. Although he wishes Zhou Shuren a long life, it’s only a wish, and who can really live forever?
The Retired Emperor, "Recently, forget it; I won’t worry about it anymore."
Let the son worry about the grandson.
The Emperor knew what his father wanted to say, but he also didn’t intend to confide. His son is still young, and recently the second son has been causing quite a stir. He wouldn’t be lenient if it were the grassland.
The Emperor, "Wu Ming will have to stay on the grassland for a few years."
The Retired Emperor, "Yes."
He understood that while Zhou Shuren was around, Wu Ming wouldn’t achieve a high position. The two are ultimately not connected by blood. Stroking his beard, he thought Wu Ming was young, so it’s good for him to guard the grassland outside.
The Emperor spoke with a hint of laughter, "The Crown Prince is about to get married, and in a few years, I’ll become a grandfather."
The Retired Emperor’s lips also curled, "My health isn’t too bad; I can see the next generation."
For him to live to this age as a Retired Emperor is indeed a blessing.
At the Zhou Hou Residence, Yu Wen lay lazily. Hearing footsteps, she called, "Mother."
"You have such sharp ears."
Yu Wen opened her eyes, "Only a few people can enter my courtyard; it would be a problem if I couldn’t remember."
Su Xuan handed the painting in her hand to her daughter, "Take a look."
Yu Wen was puzzled, "Did you buy this for your daughter?"
Su Xuan sat down, her gaze on her daughter. Seeing her daughter look at the painting and then put it aside, she asked, "Not happy? I specially hired someone to buy it."
Yu Wen was speechless, "You spent a high price to buy Gu Sheng’s painting from someone else, spending extra silver, and I’m supposed to be happy?"
Had she wanted to do so, she would have done it long ago. She wouldn’t spend unnecessary money like that. The Plum Blossom Painting was expensive but had collectible value. Selling it now wouldn’t earn much but a hundred taels were still possible—the Ministry of Revenue handles antiques below market price.
Su Xuan, "...You’re too rational."
"Isn’t being rational a good thing? Does it have to be like Grandmother says, with a love-struck mind?"
After saying it, she shuddered, thinking of the stories her grandmother told; it felt terrifying.
Su Xuan found it hard to express, "Consider it my meddling."
Yu Wen hugged her mother’s arm, "I know it’s because you care about me, Mom. I’m aware of my choices, don’t worry. A son-in-law won’t run away."
Su Xuan helplessly tapped her daughter’s forehead, "You siblings have such strong opinions."
Yu Wen squinted her eyes with a smile, "Mother, you can help brother more. With his temperament, you’ll need to worry."
Su Xuan took a deep breath, "Both of you are enough to worry me."
In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Yu Die, responding to an invitation from her betrothed’s mother, left the capital early in the morning for a temple visit, only to return shortly after leaving.
Zhulan was momentarily stunned hearing this news in the main courtyard. After waiting for a while and not seeing Yu Die appear, she couldn’t stay put, so she got up to visit the second wife’s quarters.